Activity Coordinator - Jigsaw, Cumbria's Children's Hospice

Job description

Job responsibilities

Overall aims:

We are looking for a highly motivated individual to provide a wide range of play and activities for Children and Young people with complex health needs or life limiting conditions attending Jigsaw Cumbrias Childrens Hospice.

You will work alongside the nursing, medical and family support teams to provide play and activities to enhance the care of the children and young people and supporting families of those children and young people.

Key areas:

Plan and deliver appropriate play and activities for children and young people aged 0-25 years, enabling them to participate wherever possible.

To be involved with the activities needed for our Young Adult Service (>25years).

Liaise with staff and volunteers to ensure all are aware of their tasks in supporting the children and young people in activities undertaken.

Provide opportunities for children and young people and their parents/carers to give feedback on activities undertaken.

Act as a resource regarding play and activities for other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Daily planning of activities, trips and outings to meet the needs of the CYP in our care.

Ensure that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of self and others and to comply with policies and procedures relating to health and safety within the hospice and specifically relating to Jigsaw.

Demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and the physical, behavioural, social and welfare needs of others.

Liaise with members of the primary health care team, education service and other agencies as required.

Support event programmes for siblings and facilitate activities on family support days.

Take part in the development of outreach activities for families.

Follow and adhere to all hospice policies and procedures.

Be aware of any safeguarding concerns and know how to escalate these.

Training and development

Attend staff development programmes, training courses, conferences and study days as appropriate.

Attend compulsory staff meetings, supervision and annual appraisal sessions.

Undertake specific training to provide specialist activities.

Take responsibility for attendance at mandatory training sessions in health and safety, resuscitation, fire, safeguarding, moving and handling, infection control, equality and diversity and vehicle familiarisation.

General

Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene, presentation and hospice dress code appropriate to this post and activities being undertaken.

Act at all times in a professional manner, respecting the needs of colleagues and cooperating to maintain a harmonious working environment.

Maintain confidentiality of all issues concerning patients, their families together with all other hospice and staff issues.

Follow and demonstrate the Hospice Values.

Ability to drive Hospice vehicles.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience with children and young people of ages 025 years

Desirable

• Experience with children and young people with complex needs or with life limiting illness
• Understanding of all relevant legislation, such as data protection and safeguarding.

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant qualification in play work and/or provision of activities

Desirable

• Food handling certificate
• Basic knowledge of first aid

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of the importance of play
• Demonstrates high standard of work
• Effective communication skills
• Ability to involve and effectively lead activities
• Good team work
• Experience of working independently
• Ability to adapt play and activities to meet a wide range of CYP with complex medical and health needs.
• Ability to treat all children, young people and families with dignity, respect and understanding
• Ability to set and maintain professional boundaries with children, young people, parents, staff and visitors
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary team
• Creative flair
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise effectively
• To be flexible and able to adapt to changing requirements
• Car driver, with full driving licence

Desirable

• Makaton
• Safeguarding issues and legislation
• IT skills, including Microsoft office, word, outlook, excel

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Positive attitude towards change

Desirable

• Ability to recognise stress in oneself and others and to manage it effectively
• Demonstrate motivation and commitment towards personal and professional development

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw Children's Hospice

Address

Eden Valley Hospice

Durdar Road

Carlisle

CA2 4SD

Employer's website

https://www.edenvalleyhospice.org/ (Opens in a new tab)